Published Fri, Mar 18th 2016
Recofloor members celebrated their record-breaking vinyl recycling achievements at the scheme’s fifth annual awards event at Old Trafford, the Home of Manchester United, in March.
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Recofloor members celebrated their record-breaking vinyl recycling achievements at the scheme’s fifth annual awards event at Old Trafford, the Home of Manchester United, in March.
Flooring companies, contractors and distributors have collected more than 2,700 tonnes of vinyl flooring – including 508 tonnes in 2015 alone – since the UK take-back scheme was founded by leading flooring manufacturers Polyflor and Altro in 2009 to divert waste material from landfill.
The main winners were Carpets ‘N’ Carpets Ltd (Contractor of the Year); 3D Flooring Supplies/ MCD Wales/ Flooring Accessories (Distributor of the Year); S&D Flooring Specialists Ltd (Best Newcomer); STS Flooring Distributors Ltd (Greatest Improver); Mark Purnell of Fantasy Flooring Ltd (Recofloor Champion), Mezmirizin Flooring Ltd (Drop-Off Site User of the Year); Birch Distribution (Outstanding Achievement Award )and Branagan Flooring Services (Long-Standing Service Award).
Winners received their trophies and certificates from guest host and former Southampton and England footballer Matt Le Tissier who was clearly impressed and commented: “Manufacturers collaborating in this way to improve the sustainability of their products must be unique. It’s fantastic for the environment: a win-win situation!”
Entries were judged mainly on last year’s achievements, while also recognising collectors’ significant contributions in various ways.
Directors Bob Smith of Polyflor and Altro’s John Patsavellas both expressed their delight that ‘more and more companies are recognising the wider benefits of Recofloor, not just in connection with cost savings, but also with regard to enhancing their business offering and increasing their environmental sustainability’.
Thanking members, John said their ‘commitment and engagement is central to the success of the scheme’. “Altro, like Polyflor, is proud to be a founder of this scheme, which is a core part of both our sustainability programmes. Recofloor as a scheme leads the way across the Europe. We have a ‘world first’ in collaboration that has created a scheme that really works. As Recofloor continues to evolve, others will find it very difficult to replicate.”
Material collected by Recofloor’s 700-strong membership is recycled back into products, including new flooring, which benefits the environment and can reduce collectors’ waste disposal costs by up to 70%. The scheme accepts smooth and safety vinyl offcuts, uplifted smooth vinyl, roll ends and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT).
Key speakers from the flooring industry included Richard Catt, CEO of the Contract Flooring Association, Ian James from FITA and Anthony Francis, Managing Director of Mayfield Floors.
Richard commented: “Sustainability and waste management are extremely important to our industry and Recofloor makes a significant contribution. Winning a Recofloor award is an achievement that is growing in recognition and an important addition to any company’s profile. So congratulations should go to all the winners – particularly the significant number who are CFA members!”
Recofloor Manager Jane Gardner, who showed the new Recofloor video on how the scheme works, said: “Recofloor is a unique scheme at the heart of the Circular Economy and shares these principles in recovering resources for reuse, where possible, in high value products. Everyone should be proud of what’s been achieved and we are striving to do even more.”
A total of 29 firms received Gold and Silver Awards based on the amount of material collected per fitter.
